The Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer. The vaccine will be shipped out to 636 locations across the country within the next 24 hours.
"Today's action follows an open and transparent review process that included input from independent scientific and public health experts and a thorough evaluation by the agency's career scientists to ensure this vaccine met FDA's rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization," FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement. "The tireless work to develop a new vaccine to prevent this novel, serious, and life-threatening disease in an expedited timeframe after its emergence is a true testament to scientific innovation and public-private collaboration worldwide."
The vaccine is expected to arrive at about 150 sites on Monday (December 14). The remaining locations should receive the vaccines on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The government estimates that nearly three million doses will be given out in the first week and 20 million by the end of the year. Healthcare and frontline workers and the staff and residents of long-term care facilities will be prioritized to receive the vaccine.
Before people can begin to receive the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must approve the vaccine. The agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met on Saturday (December 12) and voted to approve the vaccine.
Once the CDC accepts the committee's recommendation the vaccine can be distributed.
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